Atmel Targets Miniature Remote Control Units with Introduction of New RF Remote Control Transmitter Family

Boasting Industry's Highest Power Output at Lowest Levels of Current Consumption

Heilbronn, Germany, April 02, 2003. . . Atmel® Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) announced today the availability of a new single RF data control transmitter family that provides the industry's highest output power along with the lowest current consumption in a microcontroller-based RF transmitter. Alongside its other microcontroller products, Atmel also offers the advantages of embedded flash versions, which are easily and quickly reprogrammable. The family of ICs is provided with a broad range of design-in and support tools, which lends the design engineer greater flexibility and helps to simplify the design-in process.

The innovative ATAR862/T48C862 series has been especially developed for the demands of RF low-cost data transmission systems at data rates up to 32 kBaud. They can be used in both ASK (Amplitude Shift Keying) and FSK (Frequency Shift Keying) systems. The single transmitter ICs are well suited to be used along with Atmel's PLL RF receivers T574x and T576x. Due to their wide operating temperature range of -40 degrees C to +85 degrees C or +125 degrees C, the single RF transmitters can be used for a broad range of keyless-entry systems, consumer- and industrial applications and TPM (Tire Pressure Monitoring) systems where +125 degrees C is required.

"Designers of remote control units face the challenge that the end products need a steadily increased system integration level. As RF transmitters are incorporated in mobile systems, a physically small design is a must to prevent inconvenience for the end user. Our highly integrated single RF transmitters are the perfect solution to help minimize the size of the end product." Torsten Mann, Marketing Director for Automotive and Control Products at Atmel, explained.

The ATAR862/T48C862 feature integrated PLL loop filter, ESD protection and a single-ended antenna output and a highly efficient power amplifier. They are easy-to-design-in solutions due to the excellent isolation of the PLL from the PA and the power supply. Only minimal external circuitry is necessary.

Atmel provides the single RF transmitter as well as Flash and ROM versions for the three standard carrier frequencies worldwide (315 MHz, 315 MHz and 868/ 915 MHz), providing an output power of maximum 8.0 dBm (868/ 915 MHz), maximum 10.0 dBm (433 MHz) and maximum 10.5 dBm (315 MHz), respectively. Flash transmitters are available for development and pre-series, in high-volume production, the ROM version will be used.

Samples of the T48C862 (Flash version) are available now. Pricing starts for the ATAR862 at US$ 2.58 (60 k) and for the T48C862 at US$ 5.20 (10 k).

About Atmel
Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose, California with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe. Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic, mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a leading provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS, BiCMOS, SiGe, and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.

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